Electronic still camera for recording and regenerating image data and sound data

Abstract

An electronic still camera has a photographing device for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data; an image data encoder for encoding the image data, an image recorder for recording the coded image data to a recording medium; a sound converter for converting a sound to an electric signal; a sound data encoder for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal; a sound recorder for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium; an image data reader for reading the coded image data from the recording medium; an image decoder for decoding the read image data; a sound data reader for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium; a sound decoder for decoding the read sound data; and a controller for displaying only a first or second field image when a still image is regenerated during regeneration of a continuous image. A central processing unit (CPU) continuously regenerates only the first (odd) or second (even) field image when the still image is regenerated during the continuous image regeneration so as to prevent moving image portions of the first and second field images from being blurred.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic still camera comprising: photographing means for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data; and   control means connected to each of said photographing means, said image data encoding means, said image recording means, said sound data encoding means, said sound recording means, said image data reading means, said image decoding means, said sound data reading means and said sound decoding means for displaying only a first or second field image when a still image is regenerated during regeneration of a continuous image.   
     
     
       2. An electronic still camera comprising: photographing means for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   sound data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data; and   control means connected to each of said photographing means, said image data encoding means, said image recording means, said sound data encoding means, said sound recording means, said image data reading me, said image decoding means, said sound data reading means and said sound decoding means for regenerating a first field image plural times and thereafter regenerating a second field image the same plural times in slow regeneration during regeneration of a continuous image.   
     
     
       3. An electronic still camera comprising: photographing means for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   sound data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data; and   control means connected to each of said photographing means, said image data encoding means, said image recording means, said sound data encoding means, said sound recording means, said image data reading means, said image decoding means, said sound data reading means and said sound decoding means for regenerating a first field image after a second field image of the same frame is regenerated in reverse regeneration during regeneration of a continuous image.   
     
     
       4. An electronic still camera comprising: photographing means for photographing a photo graphed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   sound data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium; and   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data;   said sound decoding means having means for detecting a soundless portion of the decoded sound data and means for recording soundless time information of the sound data; and   the electronic still camera being constructed such that a sounding unit of the sound data including the position of a still image and a recording time thereof is continuously regenerated when a still image regenerating mode is started during regeneration of a continuous image.   
     
     
       5. An electronic stiff camera comprising: photographing means for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   sound data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium; and   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data;   said sound decoding means having means for detecting a soundless portion of the decoded sound data and means for recording soundless time information of the sound data; and   the electronic still camera being constructed such that a sounding unit of the sound data including the position of a slow regenerating image and a recording time thereof is continuously regenerated when a slow regenerating mode is started during regeneration of a continuous image.   
     
     
       6. An electronic still camera comprising: photographing means for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   sound data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium; and   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data;   said sound decoding means having means for detecting a soundless portion of the decoded sound data and means for recording soundless time information of the sound data; and   the electronic still camera being constructed such that a sounding unit of the sound data including the position of a rapid traverse or rewind regenerating image and a recording time thereof is regenerated at a standard speed when a rapid traverse regenerating mode or a rewind regenerating mode is started during regeneration of a continuous image.   
     
     
       7. An electronic still camera comprising: photographing ms for photographing a photographed object and outputting interlaced image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal;   sound data encoding means for encoding sound data converted to the electric signal;   sound recording means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound data reading means for reading the coded sound data from the recording medium; and   sound decoding means for decoding the read sound data;   said sound decoding means having means for detecting a soundless portion of the decoded sound data and means for recording soundless time information of the sound data; and   the electronic still camera being constructed such that a sounding unit of the sound data including the position of a reverse reproducing image and a recording time thereof is regenerated at a standard speed when a reverse regenerating mode is started during regeneration of a continuous image. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  An electronic camera, comprising: a photographing means for photographing an object and outputting fields of image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data on a recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data; and   control means, connected to each of said photographing means image data encoding means, image data recording means image data reading means, and image decoding means for controlling a displaying of fields such that only one of an even and an odd one of said fields are displayed for a period of time which is longer than a field rate of the electronic camera. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. An electronic camera according to claim 8, wherein the control means comprises:   means for controlling the displaying of said one of the even and odd fields for eight field periods in order to achieve a still image. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. An electronic camera according to claim 8, wherein the control means comprises:   means for controlling a subsequent displaying of a field opposite to said one of the even and odd fields for said period of time which is longer than the field rate in order to achieve a slow regeneration effect. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing device which captures an image of an object and outputs fields of image data;   an image encoder which encodes the image data;   a recording medium which stores encoded image data;   an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data stored in the recording medium; and   a controller, connected to each of said photographing device, image encoder, recording medium, and image decoder which controls a displaying of fields such that only one of an even and an odd one of said fields are displayed for a period of time which is longer than a field rate of the   
     
     
        electronic camera. .Iaddend..Iadd.12.  An electronic camera according to claim 11, wherein the controller comprises: a control device which controls the displaying of fields such that said one of the even and odd fields are displayed for eight field periods in order to achieve a still image. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. An electronic camera according to claim 11, wherein the controller comprises:   a controller which controls a subsequent displaying of a field opposite to said one of the even and odd fields for said period of time which is longer than the field rate in order to achieve a slow regeneration effect. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A method of capturing and displaying images, comprising the steps of:   obtaining, through a lens, a sequence of fields of image information;   encoding the image information which has been obtained;   storing the image information which has been encoded;   decoding the stored image information; and   displaying only one of an even and an odd one of said sequence of fields for a period of time which is longer than a field rate of the displaying step. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the displaying step comprises:   displaying said one of the even and odd fields for eight field periods in   
     
     
        order to achieve a still image. .Iaddend..Iadd.16.  A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of: subsequently displaying a field opposite to said one of the even and odd fields for said period of time which is longer than the field rate in order to achieve a slow regeneration effect. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing means for photographing an object and outputting fields of image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the coded image data on a recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the coded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data; and   control means, connected to each of said photographing means image data encoding means image recording means, image data reading means, and image decoding means for controlling a displaying of fields such that during a reverse generation mode, fields are sequentially displayed in an order which is reverse to an order that the fields were photographed. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing device which captures an image of an object and outputs fields of image data;   an image encoder which encodes the image data;   a recording medium which stores encoded image data;   an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data stored in the recording medium; and   a controller, connected to each of said photographing device, image encoder, recording medium, and image decoder which controls a displaying of fields such that during a reverse generation mode, fields are sequentially displayed in an order which is reverse to an order that the   
     
     
        fields were photographed. .Iaddend..Iadd.19.  A method of capturing and displaying images, comprising the steps of: obtaining, through a lens, a sequence of fields of image information;   encoding the image information which has been obtained;   storing the image information which has been encoded;   decoding the stored image information; and   sequentially displaying, during a reverse generation mode, fields in an order which is reverse to an order that the fields were photographed.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.20.  An electronic camera, comprising: a photographing means for photographing an object and outputting fields of image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the encoded image data on a recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the encoded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal representing the sound;   sound encoding means for converting the electric signal representing the sound to encoded sound data;   sound data recording means for recording the encoded sound data on the recording medium;   sound data reading means for reading the encoded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the encoded sound data which was read from the recording medium;   means for detecting a soundless portion of the sound data which has been decoded;   means for placing the camera in a still generation mode; and   a control means, connected to the photographing means, the image data encoding means, the image recording means, the image data reading means, the image decoding means, the sound encoding means, the sound data recording means, the sound data reading means, the sound decoding means the means for detecting the soundless portion, and the means for placing the camera in a still generation mode, for controlling a generation of sound such that when a still image is displayed, sound is generated until the soundless portion of the sound data is detected and in response to the detection of the soundless portion, the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing device which captures an image of an object and outputs fields of image data;   an image encoder which encodes the image data;   an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data;   a microphone which outputs an electrical signal representing sound;   a sound encoder which encodes the electrical signal representing sound into encoded sound data;   a sound decoder which decodes the encoded sound data;   a recording medium which stores the encoded image data and the encoded sound data; and   a controller, connected to each of said photographing device, image encoder, image decoder, sound encoder, sound decoder, and recording medium, which controls a generation of sound such that when a still image is displayed, sound is generated up until a soundless portion and the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.22.  A method of capturing and displaying images and sound using an electronic camera, comprising the steps of: obtaining, through a lens, a sequence of fields of image information while capturing sound information through a microphone;   encoding the image information which has been obtained;   storing the image information which has been encoded;   encoding the sound information which has been obtained;   storing the sound information which has been encoded;   decoding the stored image information;   decoding the stored sound information;   placing the electronic camera in a still image generation mode;   displaying a still image;   playing a sequence of the sound information up until a soundless portion while the still image is being displayed; and   replaying the sequence of the sound information up until the soundless   
     
     
        portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.23.  An electronic camera, comprising: a photographing means for photographing an object and outputting fields of image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the encoded image data on a recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the encoded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal representing the sound;   sound encoding means for converting the electric signal representing the sound to encoded sound data;   sound data recording means for recording the encoded sound data on the recording medium;   sound data reading means for reading the encoded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the encoded sound data which was read from the recording medium;   means for detecting a soundless portion of the sound data which has been decoded;   means for placing the camera in a slow regeneration of images mode; and   a control means, connected to the photographing means, the image data encoding means, the image recording means, the image data reading means, the image decoding means, the sound encoding means, the sound data recording means, the sound data reading means, the sound decoding means, the means for detecting the soundless portion, and the means for placing the camera in the slow regeneration mode, for controlling a generation of sound such that when images are displayed in the slow regeneration mode, sound is generated until the soundless portion of the sound data is detected and in response to the detection of the soundless portion, the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing device which captures an image of an object and outputs fields of image data;   an image encoder which encodes the image data;   an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data;   microphone which outputs an electrical signal representing sound;   a sound encoder which encodes the electrical signal representing sound into encoded sound data;   a sound decoder which decodes the encoded sound data;   a recording medium which stores the encoded image data and the encoded sound data; and   a controller, connected to each of said photographing device, image encoder, image decoder, sound encoder, sound decoder, and recording medium, which controls a generation of sound such that when a slow image regenerating mode is used, sound is generated up until a soundless portion and the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.25.  A method of capturing and displaying images and sound using an electronic camera, comprising the steps of: obtaining, through a lens, a sequence of fields of image information while capturing sound information through a microphone;   encoding the image information which has been obtained;   storing the image information which has been encoded;   encoding the sound information which has been obtained;   storing the sound information which has been encoded;   decoding the stored image information;   decoding the stored sound information;   placing the electronic camera in a slow image regeneration mode;   displaying a sequence of images in the slow image regeneration mode;   playing a sequence of the sound information up until a soundless portion while the slow image regeneration mode is being used; and   replaying the sequence of the sound information up until the soundless   
     
     
        portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.26.  An electronic camera, comprising: a photographing means for photographing an object and outputting fields of image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the encoded image data on a recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the encoded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal representing the sound;   sound encoding means for converting the electric signal representing the sound to encoded sound data;   sound data recording means for recording the encoded sound data on the recording medium;   sound data reading means for reading the encoded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the encoded sound data which was read from the recording medium;   means for detecting a soundless portion of the sound data which has been decoded;   means for placing the camera in a rapid traverse or rewind regeneration of images mode; and   a control means, connected to the photographing means the image data encoding means, the image recording means, the image data reading means, the image decoding means, the sound encoding means, the sound data recording means, the sound data reading means, the sound decoding means, the means for detecting the soundless portion, and the means for placing the camera in the rapid traverse or rewind regeneration mode, for controlling a generation of sound such that when images are displayed in the rapid traverse or rewind regeneration mode, sound is generated until the soundless portion of the sound data is detected and in response to the detection of the soundless portion, the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing device which captures an image of an object and outputs fields of image data;   an image encoder which encodes the image data;   an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data;   a microphone which outputs an electrical signal representing sound;   a sound encoder which encodes the electrical signal representing sound into encoded sound data;   a sound decoder which decodes the encoded sound data;   a recording medium which stores the encoded image data and the encoded sound data; and   a controller, connected to each of said photographing device, image encoder, image decoder, sound encoder, sound decoder, and recording medium, which controls a generation of sound such that when a rapid traverse or rewind image regenerating mode is used, sound is generated up until a soundless portion and the sound data up to the soundless portion   
     
     
        is repeatedly generated. .Iaddend..Iadd.28.  A method of capturing and displaying images and sound using an electronic camera, comprising the steps of: obtaining, through a lens, a sequence of fields of image information while capturing sound information through a microphone;   encoding the image information which has been obtained;   storing the image information which has been encoded;   encoding the sound information which has been obtained;   storing the sound information which has been encoded;   decoding the stored image information;   decoding the stored sound information;   placing the electronic camera in a rapid traverse or rewind image regeneration mode;   displaying a sequence of images in the rapid traverse or rewind image regeneration mode;   playing a sequence of the sound information up until a soundless portion while the rapid traverse or rewind image regeneration mode is being used; and   replaying the sequence of the sound information up until the soundless   
     
     
        portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.29.  An electronic camera, comprising: a photographing means for photographing an object and outputting fields of image data;   image data encoding means for encoding the image data;   image recording means for recording the encoded image data on a recording medium;   image data reading means for reading the encoded image data from the recording medium;   image decoding means for decoding the read image data;   sound converting means for converting a sound to an electric signal representing the sound;   sound encoding means for converting the electric signal representing the sound to encoded sound data;   sound data recording means for recording the encoded sound data on the recording medium;   sound data reading means for reading the encoded sound data from the recording medium;   sound decoding means for decoding the encoded sound data which was read from the recording medium;   means for detecting a soundless portion of the sound data which has been decoded;   means for placing the camera in a reverse regeneration of images mode; and   a control means, connected to the photographing means, the image data encoding means, the image recording means, the image data reading means, the image decoding means, the sound encoding means, the sound data recording means, the sound data reading means, the sound decoding means, the means for detecting the soundless portion, and the means for placing the camera in the reverse regeneration mode, for controlling a generation of sound such that when images are displayed in the reverse regeneration mode sound is generated until the soundless portion of the sound data is detected and in response to the detection of the soundless portion, the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. An electronic camera, comprising:   a photographing device which captures an image of an object and outputs fields of image data;   an image encoder which encodes the image data;   an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data;   a microphone which outputs an electrical signal representing sound;   a sound encoder which encodes the electrical signal representing sound into encoded sound data;   a sound decoder which decodes the encoded sound data;   a recording medium which stores the encoded image data and the encoded sound data; and   a controller, connected to each of said photographing device, image encoder, image decoder, sound encoder, sound decoder, and recording medium, which controls a generation of sound such that when a reverse image regenerating mode is used, sound is generated up until a soundless portion and the sound data up to the soundless portion is repeatedly generated. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. A method of capturing and displaying images and sound using an electronic camera, comprising the steps of:   obtaining, through a lens, a sequence of fields of image information while capturing sound information through a microphone;   encoding the image information which has been obtained;   storing the image information which has been encoded;   encoding the sound information which has been obtained;   storing the sound information which has been encoded;   decoding the stored image information;   decoding the stored sound information;   placing the electronic camera in a reverse image regeneration mode;   displaying a sequence of images in the reverse image regeneration mode;   playing a sequence of the sound information up until a soundless portion while the reverse image regeneration mode is being used; and   replaying the sequence of the sound information up until the soundless portion. .Iaddend.